Winch



March 2.2, 1949. H. COHEN 2,465,199

WINCH Filed Feb. 7, 1945 L Figi- INVENTOR. HC'UHOZOZ 67071877/ Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINCH Harold Cohen, Elizabeth, N. J.

Application February 7, 1945, Serial No. 576,562

Claims.

This invention relates to a winch or crab and has especial reference to a device of such type which may be used advantageously for raising a mast or the like from a horizontal position on the ground to a vertical or upright position.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a device of the indicated character embodying improvements whereby to attain a more effectual application of the power eiort and greater facility in raising or swinging a structure such as a mast from one position to another.

Another object of the invention is the provision of .a winch which is self-adjustable so that the cable reel will be disposed effectually according to changes in the direction of the power effort applied by the cable as it is being wound on the reel in raising or swinging a structure having pivotal movement.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a winch affording mechanical advantages in the application of power, and one whose parts may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled, and which is of substantial and eicient design.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will appear when the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of winch embodying the features of the invention in use for the purpose of raising a mast.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the winch on an enlarged scale, portions of the winch being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. i is sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of one of the ratchet pawls.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be apparent there is shown in a conventional manner, a mast I 0 having a boom Il on the lower end and eX- tending at a right angle with respect thereto. The mast I0 has a pivotal connection with a base I2 which is anchored to the ground.

The winch of the present invention comprises a reel I4 which is mounted for rotation on a selfadjustable supporting and anchoring structure I5, the reel I4 being given motion by a manually 2 operable lever I6 through the intervention of a ratchet I'l.

The reel I4 is one which is of one strand width so as to wind a cable I8 one convolution over another. This is done to obtain a large mechanical advantage of leverage at the beginning of the load raising operation and to exert a uniform force throughout the entire operation during which the motion is accelerated proportionately as the force required to raise the load diminishes.

The reel I4 consists of two disks I9 secured, as by Welding, to a hub 20. The disks I9 are arranged in spaced parallel relation to each other. The space between the disks I9 is slightly greater than the cross-sectional size of the cable used for the purpose mentioned above.

The supporting and anchoring structure I5 consists of legs 2ll and a leg 22. Each of the legs 2l is composed of sections 23 and 24, respectively. The sections are of suitable length and each is tubular. The sections 23 and 24 are arranged in telescoping relation, the section 24 being slidable in the section 23. Each leg 2l is, therefore, longitudinally adjustable as to length. The lower end of each section 23 has formed thereon a point 25 so that each leg 2I may penetrate the ground as shown. The upper ends of the sections 24 are connected by a section 26 and elbows 21. The legs 2l are disposed in spaced and paralle] relation to each other. A helical compression spring 28 is arranged within each leg section 23 and acts on the inner end of the companion leg section 24. The springs 28 serve as a resilient or cushioning means for a purpose to be explained.

The section 25 serves as the shaft or axle of the reel I4 and is, therefore, of such cross-sectional size as to loosely t in the hub 2D.

The leg 22 is composed of elongated metal members 29, there being a short rod 30 connecting adjacent ends of the members 29, and the other adjacent ends of said members having alined holes to receive the shaft 26 with the mem' bers 29 abutting collars 3l secured to the shaft 26 by set screws 32. The leg 22 is thus pivotally connected with the shaft 26, and the reel I4 is disposed between its members 29. An anchor 33 has one end pivotally connected with the rod 30, as at 34. The anchor 33 has any suitable means, such as the mushroom disks 35 for interment in the ground as shown.

The lever I6 is composed of elongated metal members or bars 36 of any preferred length. The members 36 are connected in spaced parallel relation by equally spaced rods 31 welded or otherwise secured to the members 36. The rods 31 project to provide a series of xed studs 38 on either side of the lever I6. A U-shape holder member 39 supports a handlebar 40 of suitable length disposed crosswise of the lever I6. The holder member 39 has alined slots 4I therein to receive a pair of the studs 38. The holder member 39 may be shifted into different positions of adjustment on the lever by reason of said studs 38. This enables more or less leverage or application of the power effort. The lever I6 is fulcrumed on the shaft 26.

The ratchet II consists of teeth 42 on the circumferential edge of each disk I9, and pawls 43l and 44, respectively. The pawl 43 is of U-shape and is pivotally connected with the lever I6, as at 45. The pawl 44 has a crimped leaf spring 46 Welded thereto. The pawl 44 is pivotally connected with the leg 22 between the members` 29, as at 41. Both pawls 43v and 44 cooperate with theteeth 42 of both disks I3. The crimped end of the spring 46 bears on the teeth 42 to retain thepawl 44 disposed to engage the teeth presented thereto in order to prevent retrograde rotation of the reel I4. In other words, the spring pressed pawl 44 serves as a detent. The pawl 43 is engageable with some of the teeth 42 to impart rotational movement to the reel I4 in response to the operation of the lever I8, when power is applied to the handle-bar 40.

Thefcable IB has one end secured to the hub 2.0, as at 48. The other end of the cable I8 is adapted for connection for the application of the power effort. As shown in Fig. l, the cable is connected with the outer end of the booml Il. The winch is positioned at a suitable distance from the base of the mast while the latter is lyingy lengthwise on the ground. The anchor 33 is grounded and the legs 2l are made to penetrate the ground, so that the legs 2| may be spread apart with respect to the leg- 22. 'Ihe` holder member 39 is set in position at or near the outer end of the lever I6. The handle-bar 40 is manipulated by manpower to impart rotatory motion to the reel I4 through the interventionlof the lever I6 and the ratchet I'I. The cable I8, which is fully unwound at the beginning of the mast raising operation, will be wound on the hub 20. At the start of the operation, the winch will exert its greatest power effort when the load is heaviest, because the rst convolution ofthe cable on the hub will be comparatively small. The mast I will be moved on its upward course during which the force required to raise the mast diminishes in approximately thefsame proportion as the reel I4 loses its initial mechanical power advantage. It is, therefore, possible to exert a uniform force throughout the entire raising operation and with an acceleratedI motion due to the gradual increase in the successive convolutions of the wound cable.

The springs 28 counter-balance the dead weight ofthe winch, so that the winch is always in a straightline betweenthetop of the boom Il and the anchor 33. The reel I4 adjusts itself according to changes in the direction of the power effort applied by the cable as it is beingv wound in the'reel. The reel is up high enough at the start of the operation so that cable is at its greatest angle with respect tothe surface of the ground. The reel may shift in a downward direction, thereby decreasing the angle. of the cable as the boom II swings downwardly, with the; result that the power effort or pulling force will .be effectually directed'. The winch remains` anchored and the cable will be maintained in a straight line extending between the top of the boom and the anchor 33.

It will be apparent that the parts of the winch may be readily disassembled when not in use and the parts may be assembled when it is desired to use the winch.

I claim:

l. A winch comprising a reel, a length of cable having one end connected with said reel so that the cable may be wound on and unwound from the reel, a ground engaging structure on which said reel is mounted for rotation, and means operable to rotate said reel, said structure enabling the reel to adjust itself according to changes inv direction of the power effort applied by the cable as it is being wound on the reel, said structure including movable legs composed of sections consisting of lower ground penetrating sections and upper sections, and resilient means interposed between the sections of each leg.

2. A winch comprising a reel, a length of cablevv having one end connected with said reel so that the cable may be wound on and unwound from the reel, a ground engagingv structure on which said reel is mounted for rotation, and means operable to rotate said reel, said structure` enabling the reel to adjust itself according toA changes in direction of the power effort applied by the cable as it is being wound on the reel, said structure including pivoted legs composed of sections consisting of lower ground penetrating sections and upper sections respectively, and a helical compression spring interposed between the sections of each leg.

l 3. In a winch, a rotatable reel of single cable strand width, an axle on which the reel may rotate, resiliently telescopic ground engaging legs connected with the opposite ends respectively of said axle, a lever fulcrumed on said axle, and a ratchet operated by said lever to rotate said reel..

4. In a winch, a rotatable reel, an axle on which the reel may rotate, resiliently telescopic groundl engaging legs connected with the opposite ends respectively of said axle, means connected with said axle cooperating with said legs to anchor.

the winch to the ground, a lever fulcrumed on.

said axle, and means operated by the lever to rotate said reel.

5. In a winch, a rotatable reel, anv axleon which the reel may rotate, resiliently telescopic ground engaging legs connected with the opposite ends respectively of said axle, a third leg pivotally connected with said axle and having means on its lower end for anchoring the winch to they ground, alever fulcrumed on said axle, ratchet rmeans operated by said lever to rotate said reel in one direction, and a detent on said third leg coacting with the ratchet means to prevent.A

retrograde rotation of the reel.

HAROLD COHEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in-the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 6,105l Hareld Oct. 27, 1874. 632,684 Hooker Sept. 5, 1899 1,287,050 Kranz Dec. 10', 1918 1,287,313 I-Ioiiland Dec. 10, 1918 1,306,721 Rose June 17, 1919 1,806,606 Booth May 26, 1931 

